My kingdom for a liver!

The anterior portion of the kidney is worthy of interest for cytogenetic works to collect mitotic cells and chromosomes. In the fibers of the dorsal musculature DNA is extracted for sequencing. Bones have been studied for a long time by morphoanatomists. Liver of acanthomorph fishes is often a neglected organ for phylogenetic works, and cooking as well, but...

As a French proverb says about the liver of the monkfish (Lophius piscatorius, Lophiidae)“For the liver of a monkfish, man would give his coat, a bishop his mitre and a woman her knickers”. The liver of this species is highly esteemed since a long time. The liver of the cod (Gadus morhua, Gadidae), when smoked, is excellent on toasts, while its oil is a bad souvenir for children born before the D vitamin tablets, but …

The liver (*) of a sole

from Chanet et al. (2009)

Gut a Dover sole (Solea solea, Soleidae) or a red mullet (Mullus surmulettus, Mullidae), take the liver off. Grill it a minute on either side and toast it on garlic bread. A short starter, that’s true, but a very nice one...

Nevertheless, some of them must be avoided … the liver of the triggerfish (Balistes carolinensis, Balistiidae) is toxic, and those of the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus, Scophthalmidae) and the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, Dicentrarchidae) are, at least, tasteless.